When should we apply for a DTV visa to Thailand considering flight itineraries?

I think disability payments will qualify toward a retirement visa, but I’m not sure if they count for a DTV based on “remote work.” But, since you’ve already got enough funds in the bank, and you’re planning on actually retiring to Thailand over the long term, it sounds like the soft power DTV that language schools have started to offer might be a really nice fit — previously, the language schools had just been offering courses eligible for one year education visas, but some schools have started packaging their language classes with cultural programs that apparently qualify for the DTV.

Pro Language School seems to be offering this in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Pattaya — check out — and I’d be really curious to know if it’s possible to structure the program so you could spend a few months in Chiang Mai and a few months (like burning season) in Bangkok.

If you’re staying exclusively in Chiang Mai, TSL might also be a great option:

Either way, if you’re planning to retire here, having a few months of language classes and some cultural immersion and a bunch of local social connections through the program might be really nice. Alternatively, if you plan on moving into one of the condos where some of the snarkier commenters live, maybe apply for a Muay Thai DTV instead. ;)

Hi, there's a site that does free DTV case reviews — including reapplication strategy after rejection — at Worth a look if you're stuck.

When the OP won't listen because the answer doesn't suit them!

Get set up come here 60 days visa exempt. (Or 30 if it changes) extend at immigration 30 days.

During this time source a good agent to deal with you specific case. Maybe allow B50,000 for this.

There will be a way.

I have a very good agent in my area and not too expensive. Saves my stress. Visa issued in 6 days.

Yes your husband can use his VA as proof of ongoing income but that alone even with money in the bank isn't enough to apply. If either of you will work remotely from Thailand then that person must apply using the Workation option, if you both will then you both must. If you don't work and will apply using one of the Soft Power options you must first sign up for and pay for an authorised soft power course of at least 6 months, preferably longer, and get the paperwork from the course provider to submit as part of your application.

As to your question about flights you can just look up a flight number and provide that without actually booking

Not sure why you have gotten so much hate on this post outside of maybe some poor verbiage. For DTV you just need to use the soft power route, as some of the rude commenters were trying to kind of explain. VA disability will not count towards the remote/freelancer category. So one of you will need to do a soft power, recommended to do a 1 year course to avoid being issued a METV instead. We haven’t applied yet but we will be soon. My husband is also 100 p&t. I paid for a 1 year Muay Thai program, and will continue to train and buy courses throughout the entire 5 years. We have the required savings, and will use VA payments to just show recurrent income as extra proof of financial stability (as the soft power route does not require proof of ongoing funds, just the savings). It’s very clear in the context of your post what you meant by dependent visa as well. I haven’t heard anything about people needing to show proof of flights to Thailand. Just know your 5 years start when the visa is issued and not upon first entry. Feel free to PM me and I can let you know how it goes for us in about 1 month.

Allison Phoenix . . . WHERE did you get that wrong information from? An income alone, regardless how much it is, does not make you elegible for a DTV

Don't apply just yet for your DTV because if they were to process it immediately then visa would be valid from the day it is issued so the 5 year countdown starts the moment it is approved, this is different from the non O visa which gives you 90 days to use it then 90 days when you are stamped in. The DTV doesnt care where you get your money from it only cares you have an equivalent of 500k baht in your home account for each application. I would apply 3 months before your trip as you are going to link your application to his so you need time to get both visas

you need proof of a minimum of equivalent of 500,000 Thai Baht ( ca. 15,400 US Dollar) in your home bank account, and need to upload three months of account statements into the DTV application. Your VA disability does not make you elegible for a DTV. Only workation (working remotely online for a foreign company or self employed) makes you elegible, or a Soft Power Option (which may come with a limited usage period) . . you need proper documentation for everything regarding the DTV requirements

How on earth do you get disability funds at your age and "move" to Thailand?

You can get the visa there in USA like what my husband did all the time for $200 only good for 1 year . Go to online at Thailand make an appointment less hassle, save money 💰

In everything I have read about it, they will sit on the application and not actually issue the visa until a couple of weeks before your departure date. So you will need to book your flights first. And you have plenty of time if you are not leaving until November.